A TERRITORIAL AUTONOMY FOR EASTERN UKRAINE

The situation in East Ukraine remains tense also after Minsk II. Of the available options for a peaceful solution for the areas in East Ukraine with a Russian majority, a territorial autonomy for all people living in the era, and thus for common benefit, with special rights for all ethnic groups and permanent status in the Ukrainian constitution, including guaranteed ethnic representation in a semi-independent regional parliament and with the right of Russia and the European Union to be diplomatic observers on a collaborative basis, could be a feasible intermediate way between forced integration, separation or - potentially conflict-ridden - federalization.

A regional territorial autonomy could result to be the perspective less harmful both for all ethnicities on the ground as for the outside interests involved at least as a temporary compromise, until the most profound wounds have been healed and dialogue has been strengthened to the point to proceed to potential other solutions.